The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-11-14
FLORIDA'S CAPITAL.
Some Additional Facts About the
Railroad Rate Fight.

Railroad Rate Fight.
TALLAHASSEE, FLA, Nov. l3--Now that
all the railroads of Florida have been heard
by the Railroad Commission the status of
affairs is as follows: The commission has
published standard rates of passenger and
freight tariffs to go into effect Dec. l.
These rates allow &c. per mile for passengers
and make considerable reduction in existing
freight rates. A classification of frelghJs
is also published.
Notice was given that these rates would
be enforced after Dec. | next, unless cause
were shown why certain roads or certain
articles of traffic should not come under the
general rule of standard rates. The rates
published by the commission are not maxi
mum rates, nor are they fixed permanently,
but form basis from which reductions or
advances can be made in individual cases
for cause shown.
Each road in the State was assigned day
in which to be heard, and nearly all APP
peared at the specified time In one case
the passenger rates were satisfactory, but
advances in freight rates were asked for,
while with one other road the freight rates
are satisfactory, but complaint is made of
the reduction of passenger fares. As a rule,
however the roads of the State insist most
strenuously for an advance in all rates.
WHAT THE ROADS WANT.
The railroads stated their case about as
follows: The volume of business is 80 small
that no suita #, oetur can be had even at
the present rates. Trey clai that the popu
lation of Florida is SO sparse and the people
chiefly engaged i'll agricultural pursuits
that the local pasSe 81 Nlsiness is wholly
inadequte to pay the Necessary expense of
transporting it, Florida can have no
through business, because it is a terminal
oil ii N,-.,f a.
coming into or going out of it
passes over roads of other States, the reads
of the State have no business passing over
them from points on ono side to points on
the other, because there is no territory south
of Florida for traffic. All thu winter travel
that Floridl enjoys is shared also by OF ter
States before Florida is reached, while Flor
ida gets none OF the business that is enjoyed,
locally or transitorily, by Georgia, Ala
bama, or any adjacent State In other
words, the traffic of Florida is exclusively
local and necessarily small
The roads of the State are owned by men
in other sections, and if the property is pre-
vented from making revenue that can in
some degree approximate the necessary run
ming expenses these men will lose their in
vestments and the roads will go to decay,
which will discourage OUTLAWS in Florida
and check immigration. The future has
already been discounted In these invest
ments, and il further reductions are forced
serious and permanent losses will result
FLoRIDA'S RAILROAD MILEAGE.
Florida has by far more miles of railroad
to the population than any State in the
Union, and nearly all the territory in the
State is sharply competitive in the point of
railroad business: hence the rates now are
as low as they can be made to meet actual
expenses. Tas railroad officials say the
10. ,Ic h Nnfa 90 A,
yielding very little revenue, being in nearly
every instance wholly insufficient to pay
interest on the bonded obligations for which
the lands are pledged.
As a rule 1 &c. per mile for passengers is
asked for, and considerable advances on
standard freight rates, as published by the
commission.
S veral producers and others who take
issue with the roads insist on reductions,
both i'll passeng RS and freights, for the fol-
lowing reasons: The reduction of passenger
fares will encourage local travel and
induce visitors and immigrants to
come to Florida because travel be-
tween local points in the State will be
about as in other States. Second, because
the people have given up the lands of the
State TO the roads and should have some re-
turn. Third, because in the absence of a
sufficient volume of travel to make due re-
turns those who do travel should not be
charged more than the service is reasonably
worth solely to make up the deficit.
Fourth, the service rendered and not I'M
fortunate investments should be considered
in making reasonable rates.
The commission has all the data and other
information before it, and will give decis-
ions in all cases at an early day. The rules
when made will be flexible, and can be
changed for cause shown by either the rail
roads or their patrons 1t is likely that
many and mutual changes and concessions
will be made before the system of rates will
be made permanent